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Recovering Looted Artifacts and Turning the Tide on Antiquities Trafficking
In episode four of Understanding the Thriving Trade in Looted Antiquities — a Tholos Talks series that explores the global repercussions of the antiquities trade — Deborah talks to JP Labbat, a leading expert in cultural heritage protection, to discuss the evolving fight against antiquities trafficking and the recovery of stolen artifacts.

Biodiversity Crime Is a Global Security Threat. It’s Time We Treated It Like One.
We are living through an unprecedented collapse of biodiversity. Scientists estimate that species are going extinct at a rate not seen in human history, with one million plant and animal species now at risk of disappearance. While climate change and habitat loss are well-known culprits, there is another, less visible force helping to accelerate this crisis: biodiversity crime.

Returning to Huzhou, China's Living Laboratory for Green Finance
Huzhou always leaves me quietly inspired. I've now visited six times, and each return reveals something new—not only in policy or innovation but in the air, the water, and the spirit of the city itself. Nestled beside the tranquil Taihu Lake and just an hour's high-speed train ride from Shanghai, Huzhou has become one of the most dynamic places in China, where environmental vision meets real-world use.

Heritage in Crisis: The Changing Role of Museums
In episode three of Understanding the Thriving Trade in Looted Antiquities — a Tholos Talks series exploring the global repercussions of the antiquities trade — Deborah welcomes Richard Kurin, an American cultural anthropologist, museum official, and author, to discuss the evolving role of museums in preserving heritage, combating the illicit trade in antiquities, and serving as vital sources of public knowledge.

Decoding U.S., China, and Latin America Dynamics
In episode three of Coffee, Trade, and Tech — the Tholos Talks series that unpacks the defining economic challenges of the 21st century — Jake joins Margaret Myers, Managing Director for Institute for America, China, and the Future of Global Affairs (ACF) at The John Hopkins University Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) and Basilinna Senior Fellow to decode the complex relationships between countries in the Latin America region, the United States, and China.

Facing Trade Pressures, China Renews Its ‘Opening Up’ Pledges — But What Do They Really Mean?
As global trade tensions rise and the U.S. escalates tariffs worldwide, especially against China, Beijing is taking a different path. Instead of retreating, President Xi Jinping reaffirmed during a March meeting with global business leaders that “China’s door to opening up will only become broader,” calling for the accelerated implementation of opening-up measures.

Seeking the next DeepSeek: What China’s Generative AI Registration Data Can Tell Us About China’s AI Competitiveness
In the early months of 2025, Chinese AI startup DeepSeek caught global observers off guard by releasing a highly advanced large language model (LLM) that matched top-tier Western offerings in both performance and scale.

Mexico’s Trade Strategy After “Liberation Day”
Mexico has emerged as a rare exception in President Trump’s aggressive new tariff regime, escaping new duties thanks to USMCA compliance. But that protection comes with evolving expectations. President Trump has reframed trade as a rolling performance review—layering geopolitical demands onto market access, competitive alignment, and the elimination of non-tariff barriers. As the U.S. redefines its trade posture, here’s businesses need to consider next.

U.S. Reciprocal Trade Policy: Strategic Opportunities for Latin America Amid Global Uncertainty
The adoption of a reciprocal trade policy by the United States represents one of the most significant shifts in the country’s economic approach in decades. As businesses and investors respond to this evolving landscape, both unprecedented opportunities and substantial risks emerge.

Semiconductors and the Global Economy
Jake sits down with John Neuffer, President and CEO of the Semiconductor Industry Association, to explore the complexity of the global semiconductor market. They discuss how the industry has been shaped by America First trade policies, how semiconductor trade will influence U.S.-China relations, and the urgent challenges facing the semiconductor workforce.